Patanjali Yoga Sutras – 1 & 2

पतंजली योग सूत्र #1

।।अथ योगानुशासनं ।।

And now “Yoga”.

Are these the postures that we see in typical yoga classes? The twisting and turning. Beer yoga, hot yoga and many other forms of yoga or it is simply to come to your own self. Knowing it better and just being?!

It is for you to decide. The mind and body situation first needs to be in synchronisation to even come to the conclusion of “and now yoga”

Yoga is for everyone. But everyone’s perception differs. Due to the conclusion that they draw from the situations faced.

Why the perception differs??

Let’s take the help of second yoga sutra:

।।अथ योगचित्तवृत्तीनिरोधः ।।

The first word, “atha”, means “now”. This indicates that the sutra is a starting point, a call to action. The second word, “yoga”, is a complex term that can be translated in many ways, but here it refers to a systematic process of self-transformation that leads to union with the divine. The third word, “chitta”, means “mind”. The fourth word, “vritti”, means “fluctuation” or “modification”. The fifth word, “nirodhah”, means “restraint” or “control”.

Chitta is always tranquil and calmer. It is the vritti ( translated as the whirlpool) dilutes it. That is where perception begins.

What should we do for our chitta to be seen as the bottom of the deep ocean without many 🌊 waves??

Vritti nirodh ( meaning restraining the fluctuations) that often occur in the mind.

Is it easy?? What are different Vrittis? How do I identify with them?

Let’s learn it in the third yoga sutra, and the later..